Minutes later, Agha won the toss and chose to bowl first on a surface that appeared slightly tacky and likely to aid seamers in the early overs \u2014 a call that could shape the course of the high-stakes contest.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Both sides entered the marquee clash unbeaten. India lead Group A on superior net run-rate after wins over the United States in Mumbai and Namibia in New Delhi. Pakistan, based in Colombo, scraped past the Netherlands before producing a stronger display against the USA.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Defending champions India recalled Abhishek Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav, replacing Sanju Samson and Arshdeep Singh. Abhishek returns after recovering from a stomach infection that sidelined him for the Namibia fixture.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe were looking to bat first. We\u2019ve defended totals in the last two games and won both, so we don\u2019t want to change anything,\u201d Suryakumar said. \u201cIt\u2019s an occasion, but the focus is to stay present and back our skills.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan retained the same playing XI. Agha cited early help for bowlers and the venue\u2019s bigger boundaries compared to SSC as key factors behind opting to field.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The stance has been evident in multiple tournaments, starting from the men\u2019s Asia Cup 2025, where Indian players opted out of pre and post-match handshakes in all three encounters at the Dubai International Stadium.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The same was on repeat during the 2025 Women\u2019s ODI World Cup clash in Colombo and Men\u2019s U19 Asia Cup and World Cup games. Earlier on Sunday, India A and Pakistan A also chose against shaking hands in their Women\u2019s Asia Cup Rising Stars match at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The no-handshake approach has coincided with heightened political tensions between the two countries following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, when 26 people were killed, and the subsequent Operation Sindoor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On the eve of the fixture, Suryakumar had hinted at the move, telling reporters in the pre-match press conference, \u201cJust wait a bit, you will know tomorrow, just have your food, sleep well tonight.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Agha, asked for his view, said, \u201cWhat I expect, obviously, does not matter. But I feel that the game should be played the same way as it has been since the beginning of cricket. The rest is up to them and whatever they want to do.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar criticised India\u2019s no-handshake policy against Pakistan, terming it \"silly\" and said it does not reflect well on a major cricketing nation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"This \u2018no shaking hands\u2019 is such a silly thing that India has started. It\u2019s unbecoming of a nation like ours. Either play properly within the spirit of the game or don\u2019t play at all,\" wrote Manjrekar on his X account. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
In his pitch assessment, former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja noted that rain fears had subsided. The straight boundary measures 84 metres, with square boundaries at 70 and 74 metres. Recent matches here have tilted towards bowlers, with Blessing Muzarabani and Nathan Ellis both claiming four-wicket hauls by exploiting hard lengths.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
History heavily favours India, who have won seven of their eight Men\u2019s T20 World Cup encounters against Pakistan. The latter\u2019s only triumph came in 2021, when Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan orchestrated a commanding 10-wicket win in Dubai.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Adding another tactical twist, all three previous World Cup games at this Colombo venue have been won by the side batting first \u2014 making Pakistan\u2019s decision to chase a bold gamble under lights.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Playing XIs<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Adding another tactical twist, all three previous World Cup games at this Colombo venue have been won by the side batting first \u2014 making Pakistan\u2019s decision to chase a bold gamble under lights.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (capt), Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed<\/p>\r\n\r\n